Folding table.



H. A. STONE.-

FOLDING TABLE.

I APPLICATION FILED MAR. 14. 1913' RENEWED FEB. 28| 9H5. 1,199,834. Patented Oct. 3, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

was FEYERS ca. mwmwma. wAsmNcmN. n. c.

H. A. STONE.

. FOLDING TABLE.

. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 14. 1913- RENEWED FEB. 28, 1916. 1,199,834. Patented Oct. 3,1916.

3 SHEETS SHEET 2.

H. A. STONE.

FOLDING TABLE.

APPLICATION man MAR. 14. $913- RENEWED FEB. 28.1916.

1,199,834. Patented Oct. 3,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHET 3.

HARRY A. STONE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO FOLDING-STAND COMPANY, INC.,

. OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

FOLDING TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 3,1916.

Application filed March 14, 1913, Serial No. 754,322. Renewed February 28, 1916. Serial No. 81,063.

To all tuhom it may concern:

Be 1t known that I, HARRY A. STONE, a

citizen of the United States, residing at New York, county of New.York, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Tables, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to folding tables. My object is to provide a portable table, particularly adapted to support a typewriter, which will be .of simple, light, strong, durable and inexpensive construction, havlng a skeleton top, braces therefor and a head, all of novel construction and combined with each other and with suitable supportmg legs in an improved manner. and arranged and adapted for folding into compact condition, or, so that they may be opened out for use, both operations being capable of quick and easy accomplishment.

Another object is to provide, in a folding table having a skeleton top composed of a head and arms, improved devices for engaging the legs of a typewriter or other object sustained by the said arms. The invention consists, first, in the improved manner in which the arms constituting the foldable skeleton top are connected to the head or center of said top; second, in the combination of the said arms and the braces and the form of slidable joints connecting them together; third, in the combination of the arms constituting the skeleton top, supporting legs, braces jointed to the arms, and the releasable locking connections between the braces and the legs; fourth, in the complete table embodying all of the foregoing features.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective of the complete table when in condition for use; Fig. 2, a plan view thereof; Fig. 3, a perspective of the table when folded; Fig. 4, a detail view, partly in section, and broken away, showing the improved joint between an arm and the head or center, dotted'lines representing the position of the arm when folded; Fig. 5, a detail, partially sectional, view of the connection between a brace and a leg; Fig. 6, a longitudinal section through an arm, and a part of a brace; 7, avdetail bottom view of the same; and Fig. 8, a detail view showing a modified form of joint between an arm and the head.

The legs 1 may be of any usual or preferred construction, but are preferably made 1n telescopic sections, and in the nature of the usual tripod. They are jointed at- 2 to a head 8 and may be telescoped and folded together, as shown in Fig. 3. To rigidly brace the legs, I preferably employ the ointed braces 4 which are adapted to collapse when the table is folded, as shown in Fig. 8.

The head or center 3 may be circular or polygonal, the former shape being preferred. Formed integral with the head 3 and projecting radially therefrom are a plurality of lugs 7 (Fig. 4), said lugs having fiat sides and their upper faces being a little below the upper surface of the head 3.

The arms constituting the skeleton, foldable top, which are shown at 8, have sides 9 and a-bottom 10 provided with a longitudinal slot 11. At the outer end the arm is closed as at 12 (Figs. 6, 7), but at its inner end, the'bottom terminates at 13, leaving an open space 14 for the reception of the lug 7. The sides 9 straddle the lug 7 and lie against the sides thereof, being pivoted thereto by any suitable pivot 15. The top of the arm 8 is of substantially the same thickness as the distance between the upper face of the lug 7 and the top of the head- 3 so that the upper-surface of the arm will lie flush with the top of the said head and the end of the arm will abut the shoulder 16 on the head. The straddling of the lug by the sides 9 and the abutment of the end of the arm with the shoulder 16, takesconsiderable strain olf of the pivot 15 as regards any lateral pressure exerted on the arm.

As shown in Fig. 8, the lug 7* may be recessed and arranged to straddle the end of the arm, the latter being received in the recess of the lug and pivoted thereto by any suitable pivot 15, the inner end of the arm able in the slot 11 from one end of the arm I i to the other end thereof as will be clear by comparing Figs. 1 and 3. The bottom 10 has projections 1O past which the cross-pin 18 ps When the arms are folded or ex folding the arms.

tended, these projections retaining the crosspin and preventing the braces from sliding toward the outer ends of the arms when the braces are moved inwardly preparatory to On certain of the legs 1 are brackets 19 consisting of a central band or ring 20, suitably connected to the leg 1, and the brackets themselves which have slots 21 which are of considerably greater width than the thickness of the braces 17. The braces have teeth 22 adapted to engage the brackets, the lower end of the braces being received in the slots 21 and provided with detachable fasteners, such as screws 23 which are adapted to prevent the braces from being pulled out of the slots 21. Higher up the braces are provided with pins 24; which rest upon the brackets and prevent the braces from falling when the table is in collapsed condition shown in Fig. 3.

Suitable catches 19" are preferably provided, either on the braces or on the brackets, which are adapted to prevent the braces from becoming accidentally disengaged from the brackets when the table is in extended condition.

If the legs 1 are the same in number as the arms 8, one of the brackets would be provided on each leg to cooperate with a brace supporting an arm lying substantially in the same plane with that leg. If, however, it is desired to employ a tripod instead of four legs and at the same time to gain the advantages of a larger and stronger top, as may be obtained by using four arms instead of three, a construction which is shown in the drawings, the same leg has to serve as a support for two of the arms and as the braces are not then in the same plane with the arms they support, or at least one of them is not, the slots 21 must be large enough to provide for a certain play of the braces thereinf Furthermore, in the provision of the double bracket supported by a 7 single leg and serving for two braces, I have provided a construction which is new so far asI am aware.

Secured to or formed integral with the arms 8 are the cup-shaped holders 25 adapted to constitute seats for the legs of a typewriter. These seats or holders have an open side 26 so that the elastic cushion feet of the typewriter having been inserted in the holders can expand into said sides 26 and lock the legs.

Assuming that the table is in the collapsed or folded form shown in Fig. 3, to open it, the outer ends of the arms 8 are grasped and lifted, whereupon the pins 18 cause the braces 17 to be swung outwardly, the pins 18 meanwhile being slid toward the outer ends of the arms 8 and the lower ends of the braces finally assuming the position shown in Figs. 1 and 5 upon the legs 1 being spread in the position shown in Fig. 1.

To collapse the table, the operation is reversed.

lVhile my table may be made in any desired size, it is particularly intended for use as a low table for the support of a typewriter, particularly those of the light, portable type, at about the level of the knees of a person when sitting down and is intended to be moved from place to place in either collapsed or extended condition.

I am aware that the invention may be modified and I do not, therefore, restrict myself to the details of construction disclosed, unless particularly specified in the claims.

Having thus described by invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a folding table, the combination with a center member or head having freely projecting lugs, of a skeleton, folding top composed of arms having a top and sides at their pivotal parts, the said lugs and arms being pivoted together and received one within the other in overhanging relation to each other and constructed and arranged so that the bottom surface of the top of one overlaps and contacts with the upper surface of the top of the other when the arm is in extended position.

2. In a folding table, the combination with a center member or head having freely projecting lugs, of a skeleton, folding top composed of arms having top and sides at their pivotal parts, the said lugs and arms being pivoted together and received one within the other in overhanging relation to each other and constructed and arranged so that the bottom surface of the top of one overlaps and contacts with the upper surface of the top of the other and the sides of the lug and arm abut each other when the arm is in extended position.

3. In a folding table, the combination with a center member or head having freely projecting lugs, of a skeleton, folding top composed of arms having top and sides at their pivotal parts, the said lugs and arms being pivoted together and received one within the other in overhanging relation to each other and constructed and arranged so that the bottom surface of the top of one overlaps and contacts with the upper surface of the top of the other when the arm is in extended position, a support for the center member, and foldable braces for supporting the arms from the said center support.

4:. In a folding table, the combination with a skeleton top consisting of foldable arms, of supporting legs, and braces extending from a plurality of said arms to a single supporting leg at a point below the upper end of said leg.

5. In a folding table, the combination at a point below the upper end of said leg,

with a skeleton top consisting of foldable In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my arms, of supporting legs, a plurality of signature in presence of two witnesses. slotted brackets on a single one of said legs HARRY A STONE and independent braces for independent Witnesses: ones of the arms, said braces being slidable D. C. BUssE, in said slotted brackets. M. H. TRACY.

Copies of thin patent may be obtained tor five cent: each, by addressing the Gunmisfloner of Patents. Washington, D 8." 

